Sika Manu
Encyclopedia
Sika Manu is a professional rugby league
footballer who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm
in the NRL. He was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final
. Manu's position of choice is at prop but he can also play in the second-row.
, where he played for the schools' First XV rugby team. He played for the Randwick Kingfishers and Upper Hutt Tigers in the Wellington Rugby League
.
Manu was a Junior Kiwi international.
in 2007. He has since played over 50 games for the club.
He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to Manly.
Manu suffered a leg injury in the Storm's 2009 Round 21 clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons
, thus ending his season. He ultimately missed the Grand Final win.
He was been named in the Tongan and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
. In October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad and was part of the team that went on to win the tournament.
His older brother Phillippe was also contracted to the storm.
He is cousin to current Super 15 Rugby union player from the Higlanders; Nasi Manu
.
He is also cousin to up and coming Rugby superstar David Manu, located in the Eastern Suburbs.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer who currently plays for the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in the NRL. He was a member of the World Cup winning New Zealand team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. Manu's position of choice is at prop but he can also play in the second-row.
Early years
Manu was educated at Upper Hutt CollegeUpper Hutt College
Upper Hutt College is a state co-educational secondary school in the city of Upper Hutt, in the Wellington region of New Zealand.The school day runs from 8:40 am to 3:15 pm, and students attend five one-hour classes per day...
, where he played for the schools' First XV rugby team. He played for the Randwick Kingfishers and Upper Hutt Tigers in the Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellington rugby league team.- Local Senior Competition :The...
.
Manu was a Junior Kiwi international.
Playing career
Manu made his first grade debut for the Melbourne StormMelbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in 2007. He has since played over 50 games for the club.
He played in the 2008 NRL Grand Final defeat to Manly.
Manu suffered a leg injury in the Storm's 2009 Round 21 clash with the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
, thus ending his season. He ultimately missed the Grand Final win.
Representative career
Manu made his New Zealand Kiwis debut in 2008.He was been named in the Tongan and New Zealand training squads for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
. In October 2008 he was named in the final 24-man Kiwi squad and was part of the team that went on to win the tournament.
Personal life
Manu is of full Tongan descent and as a result is eligible both for New Zealand and Tonga.His older brother Phillippe was also contracted to the storm.
He is cousin to current Super 15 Rugby union player from the Higlanders; Nasi Manu
Nasi Manu
Nasi Manu is a professional rugby union player. He represents the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition and Canterbury in the ITM Cup, playing at Flanker or number 8.-Provincial Rugby:...
.
He is also cousin to up and coming Rugby superstar David Manu, located in the Eastern Suburbs.